Update: 2 February power outages in central and western Victoria

Update: 3 February 2025, 3.15pm

Powercor is continuing its work to repair damage to the electricity network and restore power to about 1400 customers after last night’s severe storms.

Field crews are repairing or replacing poles, powerlines and other electricity infrastructure damaged by lightning, trees and other debris.

Over the past 24 hours, we have restored power to more than 46,000 customers. We expect to get most customers impacted by the storms back on supply by the end of the day and will continue keeping them updated on restoration times via our website and customer contact centre.

Extra crews are on the ground in Geelong responding to more than 149 separate fault jobs.

We would remind people to stay well away from fallen powerlines, always assume they are live and report them to us immediately on 13 24 12.

Number of customers off supply (as at 3.15pm)

Area	Job numbers	Customers off supply
Geelong	150	364
Ballarat	39	128
Ardeer	24	247
Ararat	12	78
Charlton	10	37
Warrnambool	3	60

 

Preparing for additional storms

We are now monitoring storms that are developing over parts of Victoria and are urging people to prepare now for potential power outages that can occur due to lightning strikes and strong winds blowing over trees.

Make sure you are ready to enact your backup plan if you rely on life support equipment or need electrical items to care for others and have water available if your supply relies on power.

We know it is difficult to be without power during such hot weather and we want to thank our customers for their patience and understanding as we work to repair the network and get power back on.

For more information visit the Emergency Advice section of this website.

 

Update: 3 February, 12.30pm

Our Mobile Emergency Response Vehicle (MERV) has been set up at West Park (corner of Pakington and Autumn streets, Geelong West).

Geelong and surrounds residents are welcome to come down and ask any questions you have about power outages and electrical safety. There’s also a station to charge phones and other devices.

 

 

Update: 3 February, 9.30am

Powercor is working to restore power to 3,960 customers across western and central Victoria following last night’s severe storms.

Thousands of lightning strikes and strong winds brought down trees and damaged parts of the power network. Crews are responding to more than 290 separate fault jobs.

The hardest hit areas are in the Geelong region, with crews from Colac, Kyneton, Ardeer and Brooklyn being deployed to the region to restore power to 2,400 customers in the region.

Over the past 24 hours, Powercor crews have restored power to almost 40,000 customers.

We would remind people to stay well away from fallen powerlines, always assume they are live and report them to us immediately on 13 24 12.

 

Number of customers off supply (as at 9.20am)

Region	Fault numbers	Customers off supply
Geelong	137	2411
Ballarat	40	203
Ardeer	25	85
Swan Hill	14	152
Ararat	12	476
Terang	9	75
Kyneton	9	204
Bendigo	9	22
Maryborough	8	21
Charlton	7	49
Ouyen	7	24
Hamilton	5	96
Castlemaine	3	81

MERV deployment

Later today, we will deploy our Mobile Emergency Response Vehicle (known as MERV) to Geelong to provide on-the-ground advice to community members impacted by outages. MERV will provide people a place to charge mobile phones and other devices, a wifi hot spot, coffee and information about the current situation. We will notify the community of the exact location later this morning.

 

Emergency preparedness

With more storms predicted to hit the state this afternoon, Powercor is urging people to prepare now for potential power outages.

Charge your phones, laptops and other devices, know how to open your garage door manually, and know where to turn for information.

Make sure you are ready to enact your backup plan if you rely on life support equipment or need electrical items to care for others and have water available if your supply relies on power.

We know it is difficult to be without power during such hot weather and we want to thank them for their patience and understanding as we work to repair the network and get power back on.

For more information visit the Emergency Advice section of this website.